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vmmmmmmmw UNITED] PATENT ,omCA.Y

CHARLES ernooro'n, oF MiLo, IowA, AssIGNoR yor oNnHALF To of M. ooNDIT.AND o. J. Hieraan, orv SAME PLACE.

FOLDING EcG-cAsE, oR SHIPPING-canta.

n SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent YNo. 525,157,dated'August 28, 1894.

Application ined im 1s, 1894.

To vif/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES B. PRooToR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Milo, in the county of Warren and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Folding Egg-Case or Shipping-Crate, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, cheap and durablekegg caseor shipping crate that may be quicklyand easily folded, or setup, without the use of hinges or screws, nails, dac., and in which allof the device may be set up except one side and the top so thatconvenient access may be had to the interior of the case.

My invention consists in detail of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claimsand. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective View of the case set up, with one side removed and part ofthe egg cells in position and also showing the cover above the case.Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View showing the construction ofthe bottom and ends. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional .view of thedevice folded, and the egg cells folded and placed therein. Fig. 4. is aperspective view showing a slightly modified form of crate. Fig. 5 showsthe same in transverse section in a folded position taken through theline 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the devicethrough the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 iis a transverse sectional viewof the egg case setv up, showing a modified form of construction rbetween the end pieces and bottom and Fig.

8 is a longitudinal section of the same showing one end of the case.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my preferred form is shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3 in which the bottom is seen to be composed of theboard A having the narrow strips A2 fixed to its sides, and the stripsA3 having the angular recesses A4 formedV in their inner lower surfacesfixed to the ends of the part A. .The end pieces are each composed of aboard B of a Width adapted to enter between the strips A2 and having arectangular strip B3 fixed to its outer lower surface to enter therecess A4, a strip B2 fixed to its top senil 514,858. (No model.)

edge and a groove Bl'formed .in 'the inner corner of the sides thereofof a depth corre-v sponding tothe thickness of the ends of the :sidepieces G which are straight` smooth v boards adapted toenter between theends of the bottom andto rest in said grooves.

The top D is provided yWith-downwardly projecting strips D2 fixed to thesides and `ends to overlap, the sides and ends of the case,

and D3 are strips at the sides of the top inside of the strips D2 andmuch narrower than said strips adapted to engage the top edges of theside pieces when set up and prevent them from moving outwardly. Fixed tothe inner surface of each end of the top is a spring catch F lhaving aninwardly projecting shoulder F2 adapted to automatically engage theunder edge of the strip B2 when the device is set up or a notch J formedin the strip A3 when the device is packed ready for shipping.

Inthe modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 two pieces J 2 projectinwardly from the inner face of the strips A3 and bores J 3 are made inthe end pieces to receive said pins, and in the modified form shown inFigs. 7 and 8 la strip K is fixed to the central portion of the strip A8and a slot K2 made in the end piece to admit said strip.

In practical use the device is set up by first placing the end pieces inposition in the bottom with the strips on lower edges thereof placed inthe recess formed in theend strips of the bottom, one of the side piecesmay then be slipped in the `grooves in the ends and within the sidestrips of thebottom.

This it will be seen will prevent the side` upwardly and the sides andends from moving outwardly. When folded up the sides and ends may beplaced flat upon the bottom, the egg cells folded and also vplacedthereon and the top placed in position overlapping IOC the strips uponthe bottom and the hooks made to engage the notches J. For eggs whenfolded compactly for storing or return shipping when empty will notoccupy more than four inches of space from top to bottom andconsequently will greatly economize space and cost of transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, 1s-

l. An improved folding egg case or shipping crate, comprising a bottomportion having strips projecting upwardly from the sides and ends, twoend pieces adapted to be admitted between said side strips one or moreprojections on the lower end of the end pieces adapted to enter matingopenings formed in the end strips secured to the bottom, two side piecesadapted to be admitted between the strips secured to the ends of thebottom and have the inner faces of their ends engage the side edges ofsaid end pieces and a top piece having downwardly proj ectingstripssecured to its edges, adapted to overlap the sides and ends of the cratewhen set up and the upwardly projecting strips of the bottom whenfolded, and suitable fastening devices for se curing the top to theends, when set up and to the end strips of the bottom, when folded, forthe purposes stated.

i 2. An improved folding egg case or shipping crate, comprising a bottomhaving upwardly projecting strips at its sides and like strips at itsends having recesses in therinner lower surfaces, two end pieces eachhaving a strip at its top and a strip at its bottom on the outer facethereof and grooves formed in its sides the side pieces adapted to enterthe grooves in the end pieces and a top having downwardly projectingedges adapted to overlap the strips at thesides and ends of the casewhen folded and spring catches secured to the ends of the top toautomatically engage the lower surface of the strips at the tops of theends, when set up and suitable notches formed in the end pieces of thebottom, when folded, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

CHARLES B. PROCTOR. Witnesses:

O. J. HIGBEE, C. M. CONDIT.

